Celebrating the Contribution to Int Development

Welsh-African communities are a key component of the International Development sector in Wales. From within these communities groups and individuals often play an important role in supporting others, through remittances and skills transfer.

As part of Global Diaspora Week, the share-learning seminar was to celebrate the contribution of African Diaspora groups in Wales as well as looking at how the dispora communities can develop and enhance their role in the Development sector.

This event consisted of separate presentations from individuals discussing their experiences of working in the sector, followed by a question and answer (Q &A) session and further discussion.

Contributions from partner organisations such as Diaspora Emergency Aid and Coordination (DEMAC), the Trinity Centre and the Welsh Refugee Council followed in the second half of the event, followed by another Q & A session and an opportunity to network with speakers and all 35 fellow attendees.

The Deputy Minister for Health, Vaughan Gething AM opened the event and praised the skills and talents found within the diaspora and Cat Jones, Head of Hub Cymru Africa raised the importance of diaspora engagement to international development.

• Professor George Karani (Chair of Africa Partnership Initiative): On the Importance of Building effective partnership
• Fowsia Mohamed (Founder of Hayaat Women) – Success and Challenges of working In Wales and Somaliland
• Martha Holman (Chair and Trustee of Love Zimbabwe) – On the importance of telling diaspora narrative of migration and development
• Chengetai Katsande (Chair of Chinamhora Community Trust): The importance of linking with Diaspora organisations.
• Ahmad Kamara (Chair of Wales Sierra Leone Association) – On Welsh Sierra-Leone Diaspora response to Ebola crisis

• Unisa Dizo-Conteh:(Enterprise and Capacity Management Consultant at AFFORD) – Diaspora’s Role in Humanitarian Crisis
• Pat Dunmore: (Policy Officer at Welsh Refugee Council) – On current challenges related to Migration
• Chloe Marong: (Project Coordinator at Trinity Centre) – On how service providers can be assisted in dealing with current migration crisis
• Robert Musa: (Cordniator of Newport-Mufokose link) – On their work in Wales and Zimbabwe working with people seeking sanctuary